Blog Post #1 Week 2

It is difficult to think of a world where you wouldnt be allowed to argue anything because as humans we are naturally inclined to have our own opinions, thoughts, reactions etc. It is something that is so natural for us that we dont even think about how we can convince someone of something or to influence their views through what we say. Reading Thank you for Arguing puts a name on things that you do on a daily basis and allows you to really think about how powerful our words really are. I think of Barack Obamas campaign speeches and how he was really able to have such a massive influence on millions of Americans through what he said, how he said it, and the way in which he said it. Agreeing with what he said is neither here nor there, but listening to him talk he was able to have such a dramatic affect on people because of the WAY in which he constructed his speeches. He allowed you to feel something when he talked because of they way that he used pathos logos and ethos, mainly ethos because he would get to your core with what he was saying and how he constructed his words. Being in this class has really allowed me to think about how getting people "on your side" is a matter of word play. I am currently a "Derby Daddy" for my Fraternities philanthropy Derby Days, it is a week long philanthropy event which all sororities come together and compete against each other to raise money for the Huntsman Cancer Institute. I have used what i have learned in this class to pump up my sorority appealing to logos ethos and pathos by not just telling them information about the event but instead giving them a reason to be pumped up about it. We are winning by far because I gave them a reason to want to do it.